New research from Lesotho provides more insight into what types of community-based HIV testing and counselling (HTC) are most effective in reaching people with HIV services in resource-limited settings. The cluster randomised control trial, published in PLOS One, looked at whether home-based HTC (HB-HTC) resulted in a higher uptake of HTC than delivery through community gathering and mobile clinics (MC-HTC).

Self-testing for HIV can be an effective way of increasing uptake of HIV testing and reaching high risk sub-groups of men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. An online survey conducted in China, found that 20.3 percent of MSM in the country had self-tested for HIV at least once in their lives.

HIV self-testing kits can now be bought over-the-counter in the UK. In April 2014, the UK government made it legal for people to test and diagnose themselves for HIV at home. At this time it was expected that the availability of home HIV tests would take another 8 till 10 months, but the first HIV self-test is now available this week. Brought to the UK market by Home HIV Test, it is now easier and more convenient for people who are afraid of being diagnosed by a GP or at a local clinic.

HIV testing and counselling services are to be integrated into provider-initiated health services to try and get more people tested for HIV in South Sudan. Since South Sudan’s independence in July 2011, a lot of progress has been made in bringing health services to the country after 30 years of civil war. However, still more needs to be done to alert people about HIV and to get them on treatment.